The latest news from around the world

Empty bottles of alcohol, as a study found that almost three-quarters of weekend cases dealt with by an A&E department were related to excess alcohol consumption

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

ALCOHOL-RELATED A&E CASES RISE TO 70% OF WORKLOAD AT WEEKENDS

Almost three-quarters of weekend cases dealt with by an A&E department were related to excess alcohol consumption, a study found.

Scientists claim this places an avoidable burden on emergency care but that targeted interventions at weekends and in the early-morning hours could capture the majority of cases and help prevent future re-attendance.

Research carried out at a large inner city hospital in north-east England revealed that over a period of four weeks in 2012 to 2013, alcohol-related attendance varied from 4% to 60% on weekdays, rising to 70% at weekends.

BRITISH TROOPS DEPLOYED TO AFGHANISTAN TO HELP FIGHT TALIBAN

British troops have been deployed to Afghanistan to help local forces as they fight to take control of a key town after it fell back under Taliban control.

The soldiers have been mobilised to help Nato forces, and the Ministry of Defence said they would not take any combat role and would only provide advisory support.

But The Times reported the deployment included at least one SAS unit of around 30 soldiers who were backing American special forces and the Afghan National Army as they try to retake Sangin, in Helmand province, from the Taliban.

SUPERBUG CRISIS WARNING ISSUED OVER ANTIBIOTICS RESISTANCE

It is "almost too late" to stop a global superbug crisis caused by the misuse of antibiotics, a leading expert has warned.

Scientists have a "50-50" chance of salvaging existing antibiotics from bacteria which has become resistant to its effects, according to Dr David Brown.

The director at Antibiotic Research UK, whose discoveries helped make more than 30 billion US dollars (£20 billion) in pharmaceutical sales, said efforts to find new antibiotics are "totally failing" despite significant investment and research.

CATHEDRAL SERVICE TO MARK GLASGOW BIN LORRY CRASH ANNIVERSARY

Hundreds of people are to join the families of the victims of the Glasgow bin lorry crash at a service to mark the first anniversary of the tragedy.

Seven candles are to be lit at Glasgow Cathedral - one for each of the six victims and a seventh for all those injured and affected by the crash.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to attend with Lord Provost of Glasgow Sadie Docherty, members of the emergency services who helped at the scene and those caught up in the crash in Queen Street on December 22 last year.

DAVID CAMERON FACES GROWING PRESSURE TO ALLOW FREE VOTE ON THE EU

David Cameron is facing mounting pressure to allow eurosceptic ministers to campaign for Britain to leave the EU after Nigel Lawson became the latest senior figure to call for members of the Government to be given a free vote.

The former Chancellor said letting ministers back the out campaign was "sensible" and would help the party unite once the referendum on the UK's relationship with Brussels had been staged.

It comes after former environment secretary Owen Paterson joined fellow ex-Cabinet minister Liam Fox in warning that giving ministers a free vote was the only way to keep the Conservative Party together.

SCHOOLS TOLD TO MONITOR INTERNET ACCESS 'TO PREVENT RADICALISATION'

Schools will be told to set filters and monitor pupils' internet access as part of a bid to prevent youngsters being radicalised, it has been announced.

The move comes amid growing concerns that some youngsters are at risk of being targeted by extremist groups, and a number of high-profile cases involving schoolchildren travelling, or attempting to travel, to Syria.

Ministers said that in some cases, young people had been able to access information about self-proclaimed Islamic State, otherwise known as Daesh, and foreign fighters through school computers.

CILLA BLACK'S SON LEADS TV TRIBUTES TO MUCH-LOVED ENTERTAINER

Cilla Black's son Robert Willis has revealed the entertainer spent her last hours alive "killing herself laughing" at ITV's The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Speaking on Our Cilla, a tribute programme celebrating the late star, he also said she was troubled by ailments commonly associated with old age.

"Her hearing had started to go so she had to start wearing hearing aids. Typical of my mum, she wouldn't wear them. The thing that really affected her physically was her arthritis," he admitted.

CHRISTMAS DAY WORKERS SET TO TOP 900,000

More people are expected to work on Christmas Day this year, with the total set to exceed 900,000, a study shows.

Research by the TUC suggested that 42,000 more people will not have a day off on December 25 compared with three years ago.

Nurses, doctors, chefs, bar staff, security guards, police officers and clergy are among those who will be on duty as normal.

APPLE 'PASSES ON SNOOPING LAW CONCERNS TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE'

Apple has raised concerns about the UK's draft Investigatory Powers Bill to a parliamentary committee, it has been reported.

The boss of the technology giant has already warned against giving spies a "back door" to reading people's emails because weakening data security could help criminals.

And the company has now reportedly passed on its thoughts to the parliamentary committee scrutinising the legislation.

LABOUR ATTACK ON CAMERON OVER 'SOARING LEVELS OF HOMELESSNESS'

Soaring levels of homelessness since David Cameron took the keys to No 10 have left thousands more children facing Christmas in hostels and rough sleepers out on the streets, Labour has warned.

The number of households classed as homeless has risen by more than a third in England since 2010 - and is on course to have nearly doubled by the next general election, according to analysis by the party.

Labour accused the Prime Minister of presiding over a "crisis" in homelessness despite his claims in opposition that it was a "disgrace" that people were forced to sleep on the streets.